Bus fares in Perth and Kinross are set to be hiked up as public transport begins to feel the squeeze of rising running costs and increasing fuel prices.
Stagecoach East Scotland confirmed this week that the new ticket prices will add on average 4.8 per cent onto the cost of bus travel.
Bosses revealed that the money bus operators receive in fares to keep services running remains “significantly below” pre-pandemic levels.
The fare change taking place on May 8 affects the majority of tickets across Perth and Kinross, Angus, Dundee and Fife.
All under 19 tickets and weekly child MegaRider tickets will also be withdrawn from this date due to customers aged between five and 21 and residents in Scotland, being eligible for free travel.
However nightrider tickets, valid for unlimited travel after 7pm, are frozen at £3.
Since 2019, costs across the bus industry have risen by around 12 per cent, mainly driven by fuel and staff wage increases.
Fare increases being made are below the annual rate of inflation (RPI) of around nine per cent.
Managing director for Stagecoach East Scotland Douglas Robertson said: “Stagecoach has consistently delivered some of the lowest ticket prices in the country and we are committed to continuing to keep fares as low as possible for our passengers.
“Like many sectors of the economy, bus operators are seeing significant cost inflation, primarily driven by increased fuel and staffing costs. At the same time, the money bus operators receive in fares to keep services running remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
“As well as paying for the day to day running of the country’s vital bus networks, ticket costs help us to continue investing in improvements for our passengers, and pay for bus workers who have worked hard to keep communities connected and services running during the pandemic.”
The announcement comes in the same week as Stagecoach launched the first phase of its new customer contact centre in Perth.
The Dunkeld Road facility is open for business this week for all customers in Scotland, helping with queries about timetables, tickets, and lost property among many other things.
Following the phase one pilot Stagecoach will open the new centre to the rest of the UK in May.
It comes after the Perth-based transport giant backtracked on its decision to merge with National Express and agreed to a takeover by German asset manager DWS Infrastructure instead in a £565 million deal.
The move is still to be approved by shareholders.
